Sometime in the dusky morning hours of February 9, 2012, Tim Schafer of Double Fine Productions announced that they were raising money on Kickstarter for a new adventure game in the classic style. You can read the announcement here on the Double Fine website.

Anyone who has ever said that "adventure games are dead" should officially eat their words.

As of this moment, the game has already raised $742,234 from adventure gamers.

I could (of course) be overstating the implications, but there's a chance the world has just changed.

The information about this new game was first brought to our attention here. You can read more about the game, including an update from Tim Schafer here.

Kathiehal (from last thread) - I don't recall hearing anything about Cognition, meaning it was obviously not published as well as in this case. And I meant what I said, Jane Jensen's games mean a lot more to me. I'm not super informed, but I do hang out in forums and make sure I hear about the hottest news.With this one, I got one friend of mine posting this in FB yesterday, then today morning two more friends posted an article about it (and they're no adventure fans!), we actually have an article about this in one of the most popular newspapers in Israel (I live in Berlin but I keep myself updated)... so marketing is, as Jane has also probably learnt, super important. And probably a very big reason, why this thing worked.

It is a shame however that this can only function if you already have a big name in the industry. New developers don't really have the chance to gather money like this.

Originally Posted By: Becky

Tim Schafer Announces an (as yet untitled) point-and-click adventure. The adventure game fans respond with enthusiasm!I could (of course) be overstating the implications, but there's a chance the world has just changed.

Browneyedtiger, I'm sure it was published, but I personally am not here every day and sometimes even for periods. Besides, I don't bother reading every bit of news unless it somehow attracts me. I definitely intend to read more of Cognition now, but the point is, that article and video were somehow so approachable, that even without being a fan of Ron gilbert I was seduced And the fact is, it arrived to such huge scales. Sure, they guys' a legend, but not more than Jane Jensen is. So the reason MUST be marketing, don't you agree?

The video Carla posted a link to is a shriek! It's honestly more entertaining than some games I've played. "These days it seems like adventure games are almost a bit of a lost art form, exist in our dreams, our memories, in Germany...." It must be a total hoot to work with Tim Schafer.

Gil.

They're almost up to $948,000!

Edited by traveler (02/09/1204:42 PM)Edit Reason: stunned and happy

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"Best not to think about it. I don't want to fall to bits 'cos of excess existential thought."

But yes, as I said, we didn't get the same kind of coverage. I mean, this Double Fine project was up on Kotaku, Gamasutra, Joystiq, etc, almost immediately. These guys absolutely executed a very well-planned PR strategy to make this happen! And once enough momentum was going, this thing has just plain become unstoppable. I have no doubt they'll break $1 million by the end of the day. It's on fire!

So, yes, they've got marketing--and money to spend on marketing, which we did not. End of the day, though, we're very proud of the $34K we raised, and we're still the 8th...er, guess I should make that 9th most successful video game project on Kickstarter! That sure ain't nothing.

You're not going to believe this but I read that as $15 million right at first. Lol! Whoa indeed!

I just watched a terrific video that honestly explains why I was willing to invest my pence in a Double Fine game sight unseen. Ron Gilbert's keynote speech at PAX 2009 The last two segments particularly are an impassioned argument for video games as art. Gilbert and Schafer are brilliant at what they do, I trust them, and even if this falls flat, I'm willing to let them create and take chances on my dime. (A dime being just about what I had to throw in the pot.)

Gil.

_________________________
"Best not to think about it. I don't want to fall to bits 'cos of excess existential thought."

"Schafer: That’s been really flattering and touching. It’s been really emotional for the whole team, I think, because we’ve had a roller coaster ride in the last couple of years. Just last month we had a project cancelled, and it was really hard on us, and we were like “Are we going to have to lay people off?” But instead, we decided to keep everyone together, and having that at a time when we’ve been struggling, to have this huge outpouring of love from the community and the fans and other developers...it’s just been something that reminded everyone at the company that what they’re doing is noticed by people and matters to people."

Gil.

_________________________
"Best not to think about it. I don't want to fall to bits 'cos of excess existential thought."